Jodie Foster: These '$200 Million Movies About Superheroes' Are Ruining Viewing Habits

Jodie Foster came of age in the 1970s, an era known for thriving independent films and auteur creativity, with her breakthrough role coming in Martin Scorsese's "Taxi Driver." So it's not too surprising to hear the two-time Oscar winner isn't that into the modern superhero blockbuster craze. She's doing a lot of directing now, including the "Arkangel" episode of "Black Mirror" Season 4, but she doesn't sound interested in joining the list of Marvel/DC/Lucasfilm directors.

In a new interview with Radio Times, Foster bemoaned movie studios' obsession with making big bucks with big blockbusters (and their endless sequels), often at the expense of quality:

"Going to the movies has become like a theme park. Studios making bad content in order to appeal to the masses and shareholders is like fracking - you get the best return right now but you wreck the earth.

It's ruining the viewing habits of the American population and then ultimately the rest of the world. I don't want to make $200 million movies about superheroes."

That said, when asked if she would ever consider making a movie about a superhero, Foster didn't completely shut out the idea. She said she'd only consider it if they had "really complex psychology."

Many superheroes at least claim to be complex. Bruce Wayne might qualify. But it's rare to see anyone make a superhero movie these days that isn't in the $200 million budget range, along with hefty marketing and merchandising budgets. It's never just about the storytelling.

There are smaller films out there, and they often get attention this time of year during awards season. But if you don't live in a major city those films can be tough to find. Instead, the local multiplex is more likely to have blockbusters playing on multiple screens. Any smaller film that makes the cut may get a week or two to compete before being pushed out. That's based not just on what fans want to pay to see, but what's put in front of them as an option to see. If you haven't even heard of a smaller movie like "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri," you're less likely to see it than one you know more about.

But since superhero movies are extremely popular -- and "Avengers: Infinity War" is considered the most anticipated movie of 2018 -- Foster's words may just be dismissed.